ISLAMABAD, April 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here Thursday announced that besides three current entry points, his country would open 10 more entry points along the Pak-Afghan border to promote people-to-people link and trade activities.

    Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the first batch of 35 brandnew buses and 20,000 school bags to Afghan Minister for Public Works Sohrab Ali Safri in Islamabad, Aziz said 65 more buses wouldbe handed over to Afghanistan by the end of June this year.

    "Pakistan is now looking towards rail link with Afghanistan from Chaman to Spinboldik and later from Gawadar port to Afghanistan and Central Asian states by road," Aziz said. Both Chaman and Gawadar are in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province.

    Aziz expressed the confidence that trade between the two countries which was at present one billion dollars would further grow at a fast pace.

    He said Pakistan was also looking for a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan and if the project was matured, it would also be beneficial for Afghanistan.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Afghan minister Safri, who came specially to Pakistan to take these gifts, expressed gratitude to the Pakistani government and people. He also appreciated Pakistan's efforts to extend cooperation in Afghanistan's reconstruction activities and assist in handling Afghan refugees.

    Pakistan will provide overall 300,000 school bags for Afghan school children to promote education in the country. It has already given 200 trucks and 85 ambulances to Afghanistan as part of assistance it has promised. Enditem